Radio One Prepares for HQ Move

Radio One has signed leases to move its headquarters and its Washington-area stations.

The broadcaster is preparing to move from Lanham, Md. to nearby Silver Spring, Md., reports the Washington Business Journal. Both locations, one for a 25,000 square foot space and another for a 21,000 square foot space, are near the Silver Spring stops for the Washington Metro subway and Maryland MARC commuter train stations.

Radio One owns and/or operates 53 radio stations in 16 markets. Its television arm is already in the 21,000 square foot space and the Radio One headquarter offices will also be located there. Its five metro Washington radio stations will occupy the 25,000 square foot space, according to the account.

Those five are: WKYS(FM), WMMJ(FM), WOL(AM), WPRS(FM) and WYCB(AM), according to Radio One.

The broadcaster previously had a deal to move its headquarters and studios to downtown Washington. We reported it pulled out in 2010, citing the availability of less expensive real estate outside the city.

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development approved a $400,000 grant for the broadcaster that requires Radio One to invest $1.25 million on the headquarters project by Dec. 2012. It must also retain at least 210 employees for six years, according to the Journal.